President Barack Obama signed an executive order Wednesday banning what he calls "swag " -- coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts and other public relations items purchased by the federal government on the taxpayers' dime.

The order will reduce agency spending on travel, employee-issued cell phones and laptops. It will also cut waste by posting documents online.

Wednesday's ban is part of an effort by the Obama administration to cut $4 billion in wasteful spending, making the government more efficient.

The plan is also the president's way of demonstrating his administration can get things done without what he views as an unproductive Congress.

"It doesn't replace the importance of work the Congress needs to do in coming up with a balanced, bold plan to reduce our deficit," Obama said as he prepared to sign the order.

"But it indicates once again that there are things that we can do right now that will actually deliver better government, more efficiently, more consumer friendly for less money," he explained.